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SERMON, 

DELIVERED IN THE ROTUNDA OF THE 

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. 

ON SUNDAY, MAY 24, 1829. 

ON THE OCCASION OE THE DEATH3 OE NINE VOUNG MEN, WHO FELL 
VICTIMS TO THE DISEASES WHICH VISITED THAT PLACE 
DURING THE SUMMER OF 1828, AND THE 
FOLLOWING WINTER, 



BY REV. WILLIAM MEADE, D. D. 

ASSISTANT BISHOP ZIECT FOE THE DIOCESE OF ymai»,A. 



or The profits of this Sermon wiU be devoted to the 
[Protestant Episcopal Church Missionary Society, of Virginia. 



CHARLOTTESVILLE : 
PUBLISHED BY F. CARR, AND 



EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA, to wit . 

^f^(^^t^f^^^^5f«. Bb IT REMEMBERED, that on the first day of August, m the fifty- 
* |. ™ * fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America, 
I I THOMAS NELSON, of the said District, hath deposited in this of- 
********* fice the title of a book', the right whereof he claims' as proprietor, 
in the words following, to wit : 

* Sermon, delivered at the Rotunda of the University of Virginia, on Sun- 
day, May 24, 1829. On the occasion of the deaths of nine young men, who 
fell victims to the diseases which visited that place during the summer of 
1828, and the following winter. — By Rev. William Meade, D. D. Assistant 
Bishop elect for the diocese of Virginia.' 

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United' States, entitled 
" An act for the encouragement of learnmg, by securing the copies of maps, 
charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such cop'ies, during the 
times therein mentioned." RD. JEFFRIES, 

Clerk of the Eastern DistrtQt of Virginia. 



8ERMON, 



DELIVERED IN THE ROTUNDA OF THE 



UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, 



ON SUNDAY, MAY 24, 1829. 



THE OCCASION OF THE DEATHS OF NINE YOUNG MEN, WHO FELL VICTIMS 
TO THE DISEASES WHICH VISITED THAT PLACE DURING THE 
SUMMER OF 1828, AND THE FOLLOWING WINTER. 



BY REV. WILLIAM MEADE, D. D. 

ASSISTANT BISHOP ELECT FOR THE DIOCESE OF VIRGINIA, 



CHARLOTTESVILLE : 
PUBLISHED BY F. CARR, AND CO. 



182a. 



PREFACE, 




In presenting the following discourse to the public, the author 
deems it proper to offer a few words of explanation. 

He has hitherto declined the publication of it, in opposition to 
the wishes and advice of many of his brethren and friends, for 
reasons which seemed sufficient to himself, and which need not 
be mentioned. He is now satisfied that the publication is required 
in justice to himself, to correct erroneous views which have al- 
ready been taken of it, and to prevent the increased circulation of 
the same. It will become the candid reader of it to remember, 
that a minister of Almighty God, on whom the most solemn vows 
were laid, at all times to deal faithfully with his fellow men, and 
^not to do the work of God deceitfully^ was specially invited by 
the officers of an interesting and important public institution, to 
deliver a discourse on the occasion of two most afflictive dispen- 
sations of Providence, which had swept into untimely graves, a 
number of the hopeful youths confided to their care. The invi- 
tation itself imposed upon him the solemn duty of endeavoring, to 
the best of his ability and judgment, to make the most suitable 
improvement of which the occasion was susceptible. In order 
to do this he was bound, as one who must draw his arguments and 
proofs from the revealed world of God, to ' turn to the law and to 
the testimony^ — '/or if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles 
of God.^ He felt bound to apply the great principles of religion, 
and the past dealings of Providence with man, to the particular 
subject before him, and thus endeavor to secure His blessing, 



iv 



without which, no good could be expected. Neither was he 
inattentive to the sentiments and practice of learned and pious 
divines in different ages of the world, but, diffident of his own 
judgment, carefully inquired how they had applied the word of 
God to the events of His Providence which were continually oc- 
curring. 

How far he has succeeded in ' rightly dividing the word of 
truthj^ and properly applying it to a very delicate and difficult 
occasion, and how faithfully he has copied after the highest and 
holiest examples of God's most successful ministers in different 
ages, is left to the judgment of a candid public. The author 
meant to do right ; he wished to do the greatest good in his power ; 
to say that which the occasion, the place, and all past and present 
circumstances of it seemed to require. He feels deeply inter- 
ested for his native State ; he looks upon the youth of it with 
lively concern, as the hope of our land ; he regards with fearful 
anxiety all its literary institutions, well knowing how the formation 
of the youthful character depends upon them ; he is verily per- 
suaded that the influence of religion must pervade all their regula- 
tions, and exercises, or the morals, the piety, and even the litera- 
ture of our State must greatly suffer ; and therefore he felt it to 
be his first duty, to exhibit in the strongest terms that truth would 
justify, the danger and the evil of attempting any work of man 
without the aid of Heaven. If he has erred in the choice of his 
text and subject, or the manner of applying them; if he has gone 
beyond the word of God ; if he has seemed presumptuously to 
interpret the ways of God ; he desires to be corrected, that he 
may do so no more. Some improvement was requested at his 
hands; some useful lesson was to be pointed out; a minister of 
God was called upon to apply the word of God to the affliction 
and the afflicted. He endeavored to select from the many and 
gracious designs, which Providence doubtless ever has in such 
dispensations, those which seemed to the eye of faith most proba- 
ble and most important, and to impress the same upon those 
most deeply concerned. He thinks that he has adopted a safe 



V 



course ; that no evil can, and much good may, result from re- 
garding the calamitous events commemorated, in the light in which 
they are viewed in the following discourse. 

It is superfluous to add, what will so soon and so clearly be 
perceived, that there is nothing new or striking as to matter or 
manner in this discourse. The author has followed an old and 
beaten track, and therefore feels more confident that he will not 
lead any astray. Novelty, on a subject where morals and religion 
are concerned, would be no recommendation of a discourse to 
those whose approbation is of any real worth. He would have 
been glad, indeed, to have had the privilege of some alteration 
and improvements, but the circumstances of the case require, 
that it be published just as it was delivered. Such as it is, it is 
committed to the friends of science and religion, and even to their 
enemies, if any there be, but especially to the youth of Virginia, 
in the hope that they will not so much consider its imperfections, 
as the good intention which dictated it, and the important subjects 
it presents to their candid consideration. 

July 9, 1829. 





SERMON. 



AMOS, III. 6. 

SHALL A TRUMPET BE BLOWN' IX THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE NOT BE AFRAID : 
SHALL THERE BE EVIL IN A CITY AND THE LORD HATH NOT DONE IT ? 

Having been already forewarned of the subject of this day's 
discourse, you are at no loss, my hearers, in conjecturing whither 
our text will lead. 

It is known to you all, and must be deeply felt by many, that 
Tvithin less tlian twelve months, the place wherein we are assem- 
bled has been twice visited by sickness and mortality. In the 
first instance, the attack, though violent and destructive among the 
youth of this institution, was not confined to them, but, extending 
its ravages around, clothed many families with the habiliments of 
grief. In the latter, the young and interesting tenants of these 
buildings, w-ith the families of their instructers, were the sole suf- 
ferers. In the former, beside the mortality around, three of the 
youths of this institution were suddenly cut off, and numbers hur- 
ried away before the appointed time ; fleeing as before the face of 
death. I need not teU how the hearts of fond parents and bro- 
thers and sisters were agonized by the dreadful intelligence, that 
tliose from whom they had so lately parted in tears, hoping soon 
to meet in smiles, were to be seen no more upon earth. I need 
not tell how the hearts of friends and professors sunk down within 
them, at the thought of the calamitous effect which this dispensation 
might produce on the institution itself. These I pass hastily 
over, and come to the second and more appalling visitation. 

At the appointed period, a goodly number of youths re-assem- 
bled at this seat of learning, and the hearts of friends and teachers 
and patrons were encouraged. None dreamed of sickness at a 
season when health is every where a common blessing ; but even 



8 



at this time of fancied security, a second and heavier wo was' at 
hand. A disease, uncommon in some of its features, most malig- 
nant in its character, and often baffling the skill of physicians, 
appeared within the inclosures of this institution ; and six more 
are now numbered among the dead. Again must the hearts of 
fond parents and brothers and sisters be agonized. Again must 
numbers hasten away from the place of death ; some, alas ! bear- 
ring to their homes the fatal disease, and only permitted to yield 
to their unhappy parents and relatives, the melancholy satisfaction 
of beholding them die. And now again must the halls of instruc- 
tion be closed, and the hearts of the boldest friends and defenders 
die away within them. They must look upon these magnificent 
buildings and think upon all the monies so generously bestowed 
on their erection, and they must ask, are we to forsake them? 
Are they soon to be as the long deserted seats of ancient learning, 
or as the ruins of some dilapidated castle ? Thus soon must all 
our liigh hopes come to an end? Such thoughts were natural. 
Who could wonder at or blame them ? 

But in justice to those who doubtless indulged them, it must be 
said, they surrendered themselves not up to despair. As in duty 
bound, they sought out diligently the cause of this calamity — as 
with a candle, they sought it out — again and again they sought it, 
applying every discovery of science and every rule of art, till at 
length, despairing to find any secondary cause which might be 
brought within the reach of man and be removed by human skill, 
they have looked up to the great cause of all causes, and humbly 
bowing before it, have said, and publicly said it, ' This is a visita- 
tion of divine providence ; the hand of God hath done it.' As 
such, they have resolved at this religious meeting, to acknowledge 
and celebrate it ; and I come before you, this day, with a feeble 
effort to make the desired improvement.* 

And have not these most afflictive events and this public acknow- 
ledgement, that the hand of God was in them, and a request that 
a religious improvement be made of them, all pointed the preacher 
to the words of our text ? * Shall a trumpet be blown in the city 
and the people not be afraid ? Shall there be evil in a city and 
the lord hath not done it?' 

The meaning of this passage, whether applied more particular- 
ly to the Jews, or more generally to all nations upon earth, is too 
l)lain to be misunderstood. The application of it to the present 
occasion is too just and scriptural to be objected to by any but 
infidels. 

Sue Aj)pcncli.\, note (A) 



9 



The doctrine of God's particular providence, especially in those 
judgments which we are unwilling to consider as visited upon our 
sins, is here set forth in opposition to any other method of account- 
ing for such things. The improvement to be made of such judg- 
ments is more than intimated ; ' Shall not the people be afraid ? ' 
Shall they not humble themselves under the mighty hand of God? 
Shall they not reform ? Shall they not learn righteousness and turn 
away the anger of God from them? 

We propose, therefore, to assert this day, on the authority of 
God's word, his moral government of the world, to be seen in 
every dispensation of his providence, notwithstanding all the ob- 
jections of infidelity and philosophy, falsely so called. We pro- 
pose to show by an appeal to facts, the practical advantages of 
this doctrine over its opposite, that of Atheism, which either denies 
the existence of God, or excludes him from any concern in the 
affairs of man. And then we purpose to apply this doctrine to the 
very distressing events which we are commemorating. 

And first, we assert the general and particular providence of 
God ; the former, necessarily including the latter. 

The philosophy of the Bible, on this subject, teaches that there 
is one eternal, self-existent, omnipotent Being, who, by the word of 
His power, made out of nothing all things that are ; the mightiest 
planet that rolls in the highest heavens, and the most trivial insect 
that floats in the air ; that as he first made, so he still preserves 
and governs every thing, permitting nothing to escape his notice 
or get beyond the reach of his government; granting no indepen- 
dent existence or power to the greatest or least object in the uni- 
verse ; that every thing which occurs is under his direction. This 
divine philosophy declares, that in God we live, move, and have 
our being ; that the very thoughts of our hearts are known to him, 
the hairs of our heads are numbered by him, and that he makes all 
things work together for good to those who love him. There is 
not, however, so much difficulty in gaining a general assent of the 
mind to this benevolent superintendence of the Deity, where all 
is love on the part of God, and no guilt is implied on the part of 
man. It is when evil comes upon man, that we are most unwil- 
ling to acknowledge, that the Lord hath done it, lest we thereby 
confess that man has deserved it. Here, indeed, is to be ob- 
served the marked distinction between the language of the Bible 
and that of man. Here it is that even professed believers some- 
times fail, and adopt the language of Atheism. Their belief in 
providence is too partial, the assent of their minds is too slow, the 
sense of God's presence too faint on their hearts. We must go 
2 



10 



to the land of miracles, of prophets, of visions, of angelic embassies, 
of remarkable mercies and judgments, and we must open the book 
where these things are written down by men of God, in order to 
correct and strengthen our faith in God's providence. There we 
find God every where and in every thing, moving and directing, 
blessing or cursing. I form the light and I create darkness ; I make 
peace and I create evil ; I the Lord do all these things. Those 
dreadful evils which sometimes scourge the earth and afflict man- 
kind, such as war, famine, pestilence, volcanoes, God calls his 
great plagues ; with these did he often chasten his people Israel, 
and with these did he pour out fury upon their enemies. Some- 
times he would send an army of locusts and caterpillars to devour 
the fruits of the earth. Before them would be a fruitful field, 
behind them a barren wilderness. Blasting and mildew at his 
command, would wither before their eyes the fairest prospects of 
the husbandman. Again a long and distressing drought would 
parch the earth and dry up the springs of water, and then it was 
the Lord who made the heavens as brass and the earth as iron, that 
it could not rain. These are the things which the wisdom of 
man ascribes altogether to natural causes, while the word of 
God scarce notices these inferior agents. God alone is announced 
as doing them, and therewith correcting his ungrateful and rebel- 
lious creatures. Some things there are apparently so uncertain 
in their issue, and some which occur so unexpectedly and so con- 
trary to all human calculation, and which cannot be reduced to 
any laws of man, or ascribed to any regular known causes in na- 
ture, and, of course, about which we are all in darkness these, 
instead of referring to the decision and providence of God, we 
give into the hands of some unintelligible thing called chance, or 
fortune, or accident. But let us see what our divine Philosophy 
says. How often do we see the clouds which are filled with fat- 
ness for the earth, and to which the husbandman looks with long- 
ing eyes and anxious heart, carried hither and thither, high above 
our heads, by contending winds ; now they seem about to pour 
their treasures on this field and now on that ; a thousand hopes are 
disappointed, a thousand calculations falsified ; — -who shall say 
whither they will fall, to what distance they may be hurried away, 
leaving far behind the murmuring expectants. It is all chance, 
says the Atheist. These clouds are the sport of winds, and may 
yet fall on the very place where they are least needed. We have 
a book. Christians, which tells us, that ' It is the Lord who 
eauseth it to rain on one city, and it is the Lord who causeth it not 
to rain on another city and in all this has he some gracious moral 
4esign. Let us take another instance ; when one man, by an un- 



11 



lucky blow, undesignedly takes the life of another, we call it 
chance : but the Scripture says, the Lord hath delivered such an 
one to death. ' As ivhen a man goeth into the wood with his 
neighbour to hew wood, and his handfetcheth a stroke with the axe 
to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve and light" 
eth upon his neighbour that he die :' this is chance saith the Atheist. 
' The Lord hath delivered him into the hands of him who slew him^ 
saith the Scripture. 

Let us take another example, and that from an evil custom too 
prevalent in our land. What more common than lotteries, or 
games of chance, as they are styled. But surely God is not in 
these ? The lovers and advocates thereof have never dream- 
ed that God exerted a superintending care over such things. 
To many, this would be no commendation of them. Let us 
open the first and truest of histories, and there we shall learn 
their divine origin, and how entirely they are subjected to the 
Providence of God, and there may we also see how shamefully 
they have been diverted from their first and holiest purposes, and 
prostituted to Atheism and crime, and made the instruments of 
fraud, of beggary and wretchedness. 

The lot, or lottery was appointed by God himself, for the de- 
cision of certain questions not so readily or happily determined 
in the usual way. It was the method which God adopted for 
declaring his own will in the question to be decided. The appeal 
was religiously made to him who has said, 'the lot is cast into the 
lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.' Thus were 
the lands of Canaan divided by lot to the several families of 
Israel. Thus when Judas fell from the aposdeship by transgres- 
sion, the appeal was made to God by lot, whether Matthias or Bar- 
nabas should be chosen. Abused as this ordinance has been to 
purposes of most unrighteous gain, or unhallowed pleasure, still 
God has not put it away from him or set it at liberty from his 
hands. The whole machinery is still in his hands and the disposal 
of every card, and ticket, and die, is of the Lord. O, litde does 
the infatuated gambler know, that a holy God is so near him, over- 
looking his hand, disposing the cards, arranging the dice and turn- 
ing the wheel of fortune, as it is called. He thinks that he is 
appealing to some other Deity or principle, or mysterious unin- 
telligible thing, called chance, or fortune, which decides his fate, 
but in reality it is the one only true God who decides the game 
according to his righteous judgment. He does not look on with 
complacency, my brethren, he does not bless this unworthy and 
forbidden means of acquiring that honest livelihood which we are 
commanded to earn by the sweat of our brow ; he cannot ap- 



12 



prove this coveting our neighbor's goods, or this shameful waste of 
our own precious time ; but still he is present ; and so far from 
ministering to our vices or giving countenance to the same, he 
does most dreadfully revenge this abuse of his own institution ; 
this Atheistic appeal to some unknown God. Our pleasant vices 
are made instruments of severest scourging. Has not God poured 
out his fury on this profanation, my brethren? O, think upon the 
thousands and hundreds of thousands in our land, who have been 
utterly ruined in soul, body and estate by this very evil. O, 
think upon the fair prospects of hopeful youths, which have been 
blasted by maddening play ! O, think upon the beggared wives 
and children, the ruined families, and alienated estates, and blasted 
characters, which may be ascribed to this very Demon of play, 
and then say if God hath not terribly avenged himself on those who 
have worshipped another God ; or else acknowledge that this God 
of chance is some horrid Juggernaut, said only to smile when he 
beholds the blood of the victims who are crushed beneath the 
wheels of his car, or some bloody Moloch who delights in little 
infants cries. 

Let what has been said, suffice to establish the doctrine of Scrip- 
ture on this subject ; and now let us briefly consider the doctrine 
of men in relation to the same. 

Many there be who deny not the existence of a God and his 
general superintendence of the world, who yet cannot believe that 
he takes part in all the trivial affairs of men, and actually appoints 
all the accidental and seemingly irregular occurrences of life. To 
them he is ' a God afar off, and not near at hand. It is beneath 
his state to enter into all the details of government. These must 
be consigned to subordinate agents and left to secondary causes. 
In this God we do not live, and move, and have our being, except 
in some very philosophical and figurative sense. But surely, my 
brethren, a moment's consideration must show this to be as un- 
reasonable as it is unscriptural. Can God attend to all the gene- 
rals in the world, and neglect the particulars which make up the 
generals ? How can he take care of the whole human race with- 
out taking care of each individual ? How superintend the whole 
life of a man without watching over each moment of that life? 
Let us not thus dishonor God and attempt to bring him down to a 
level with weak and ignorant man. This would be as one has 
well said, to make God the God of logical terms, of genus and 
species, but not die God of his creatures, who arc all individuals.* 
Wliat an unworthy idea that is of God, which supposes him either 



* Bishop Sherlock. 



13 



unable or unwilling to attend, most particularly and perfectly, to 
every the minutest object in the Universe. Did he first make all 
things, and is he now unable to govern and preserve them ? Is it 
not a part of his greatness and glory to be able, at one and the 
same moment, to give a full and undivided attention to every the 
most minute object of his creation, and to plan, and direct, and 
execute every the most trivial accident in the world. To deny 
this particular oversight to God, instead of exalting, debases him, 
brings him down toward the level of man, robs him of the attri- 
butes of omniscience and omnipotence, and must diminish our 
confidence in his government. How does this belief of God differ 
from that of the Epicureans of old, who acknowledged a God, yea 
many Gods, but did not allow them to know any thing of the af- 
fairs of men ? These Gods were supposed to live at a great dis- 
tance from men, in a state of profound ease and enjoyment, con- 
cerning not with the affairs of mortals. And again, how does this 
belief of a general superintendence, but denial of a particular 
providence, differ from the popular belief of the antients in chance 
or fortune ? For if God does not interfere in ordinary cases, who 
does determine and guide those thousand daily occurrences which 
are confessedly beyond the control of man, baffling all his wisdom, 
contradicting all his plans, and disappointing all his hopes ? Some 
invisible power must be supposed, or man is a poor, deserted, 
helpless creature, tossed to and fro, at the mercy of every wind 
and wave of life. 

Who would wish to live in such a world ? Well did the good 
Marcus Aurelius (and he a Pagan Emperor) exclaim, 'I could 
not bear to live another day in the world, if it were not under the 
government of providence.' 

Others there are, more dignified and philosophic in their the- 
ory. They imagine some great intelligent principle, by which all 
things were either created or reduced to order. Then it was that 
all things were endued with their specific virtues or powers ; then 
were the laws of nature established ; then the order of the universe 
was settled, and all things have since moved onward, by the im- 
mutable principles then laid down, nor is there need of change. 
Not chance or fortune, but fate or necessity, is4he providence 
which they worship. To such a God as this, my brethren, to such 
an inexorable being, what need of prayer ? Can we believe in 
such a God ? Is he the God of nature, and yet does he let loose 
from his hands all natural causes to operate upon man, his noblest 
work upon earth, without his own special direction, or do fire and 
hail, snoiv and vapour, and stormy ivinds, fulfil his ivord, ' who 
rides in the whirhvind and directs the stormT Why not permit 



14 



God to sit at the helm and guide us through the perilous sea of 
life ? Why not allow God to rule over his own world, and manage 
the exquisite machinery which his own hands have made ? Breth- 
ren, all this is disguised Atheism, it is shutting God out of the 
world; as well say 'there is no God.' For the most part these 
philosophic Deists do not consider God as the self-existent, eter- 
nal Being, by whom all things were made. They believe the 
material world to have been coeval with Him, not made by Him. 
At best he is only the soul of the world, not the creator of it. 
He is the master-spring of the grand machine, not the maker of 
it. He is not independent of the world of matter, but rather in- 
separable from it, and bound down by necessary laws, or fate. O J 
this is not the God of christians ; not Our Father who art in Hea- 
ven ; not the God who visits the children of men, not Immanuel 
God with us ; not the Being whom we can pray to with faith and 
hope, and whom we can love. O, who could bear the thought of 
being fast bound in the chains of inexorable fate, or of hard, piti- 
less necessity ? Are not all these views of the Godhead only diffe- 
rent modifications of that Atheism, which, without actually denying 
the existence of God, robs him of those attributes which make his 
existence a matter of deepest concern to man ? 

Having thus, according to the plan proposed, considered the 
scriptural doctrine on this subject in comparison with that of un- 
believers, we shall now examine the tendency of the two systems, 
not by inquiring in an abstract way what would be the probable 
result, but rather by looking to effects which have actually result- 
ed. And never did any contend on such high vantage ground as 
we do in this case. Unbelievers, indeed, decline the contest and 
concede the point at once. Strange and inconsistent as it may 
seem, yet have infidels, even while zealously asserting the truth of 
their scheme and the falsity of its opposite, acknowledged that theirs 
would not answer for m.ankind ; that it would neither promote the 
virtue nor happiness of mankind ; and that it would be better to en- 
courage the delusion of Christianity, by reason of the kindlier in- 
fluence which it exerts over the order, the peace, the purity and 
happiness of mankind. It becomes us to be thankful for the con- 
cession and to give them all due credit for that generosity which 
would leave us in possession of a sweet and purifying hope, which 
all their arguments are unable to shake. But we cannot forbear, 
in return, to ask them, what idea is this which they must entertain 
of the all wise and great and true God, who cannot lie, that he 
should have so constructed the moral world, that falsehood, a mere 
fabrication of priestcraft, should exert a happier and more moral- 
izing influence over it than truth itself? Let infidels think of this 



15 



and then be ashamed of the God in whom they believe, or else 
disown the system which they have devised. Can that man lay 
claim to reason, especially can he arrogate to himself the freest 
and noblest use of it, who shall concede that falsehood is better 
than truth, and on that ground shall consent that the superstitions 
of Christians should be encouraged rather dian the pure principles 
of Philosophers? And yet, brethren, so evident has it been in 
every age that the system of Freethinkers would demoralize and 
disorder mankind, that the more benevolent, or the more timorous 
among them, have not ventured to wish or endeavor the general 
prevalence of their system. Epicurus was so well aware of the 
corrupting tendency of his Atheistic system, that he advised his 
followers earnestly against meddling with public affairs, well know- 
ing what would be the consequence of their being employed in 
offices of trust. Some of his followers, however, being men of 
restless and ambitious tempers, put his system to the trial. And 
what was the consequence ? If we may credit Cicero, Plutarch, and 
others, several of the cities of Greece, where they were employed 
were forced to drive them out as incendiaries and pests of the 
commonwealth, by severe edicts and proclamations. A modern 
writer, who has accurately investigated the history of irreligion, and 
has ably pourtrayed its horrible effects, has told us, ' it was late 
before the Atheism of Epicurus gained footing at Rome, but its 
prevalence was soon followed by such scenes of proscription, and 
confiscation and blood, as were then unparalleled in the history of 
the W'orld, from which the republic being never able to recover 
itself, after many unsuccessful struggles, exchanged liberty for re- 
pose.''^ 

On this subject there has been one sentiment in every age and 
country, among the wise end good, the friends of order and vir- 
tue ; and that is, that the firm persuasion of some superior being 
or beings, superintending the afTairs of men, punishing vice and 
rewarding virtue, both here and hereafter, is most favorable to the 
welfare of mankind. Corrupted as have been the various super- 
stitions upon earth, and though some of them actually permitted, 
and even encouraged certain vices, yet is it, I believe, the decided 
opinion of those best qualified to judge, that the most corrupt sys- 
tem of Paganism ever embraced among men, is preferable to 
Atheism, or the rejection of all religion. Some precious remnant 
of that holy truth first delivered to man in Paradise, and after- 
wards renewed to the Patriarchs, coming down by tradition through 

* Robert Hall, an eminent Baptist minister of England, who was the au- 
thor of a celebrated sermon on infidelity, soon after the French revolution. 



16 



successive generations, was to be found in all the Mythologies of 
the Heathen world. Some virtues did they inculcate, although they 
permitted some vices. Some restraining fear of present and future 
punishment, some purifying hope of present and future reward 
from their Deities, was cherished among them, and society felt the 
benefit thereof. But where will you draw any such fears or hopes 
from the Atheistic system. I defy any man fairly to deduce from 
it the condemnation of a single vice, or the approbation of a sin- 
gle virtue. What has the disciple of this school to fear, or what to 
hope, from his God? We must not judge of this system altogether 
from the conduct of those professing it while among Christians. 
It must be taken out of Christendom, far away from the land of 
Bibles; where it may have full scope and be free to speak, and 
free to act; and then would be seen to what acts of unbridled 
licentiousness it would lead; then it would be seen 'to what vile 
affections those would be given up who refuse to retain God in 
their knowledge.'* Although I am a Christian Minister, and 
speaking to an assembly of Christians, I cannot refrain from ad- 
ducing, on this occasion, the remarkable testimonies of some an- 
cient Pagan writers in support of the doctrine I would impress 
on the minds of my hearers. And with what propriety may I do 
it while we are assembled in this house, bulk after the model of 
that at Rome, once the temple of all the Gods, now, blessed be 
the Almighty, consecrated to the worship of the one living and true 
God. What says Polybius, the Roman historian? 'Among all the 
useful institutions that demonstrate the superiority of the Roman 
government, the most considerable, perhaps, is the opinion which 
people are taught to hold concerning the Gods ; and that which 
other men regard as an object of disgrace, appears in my judgment 
to be the very thing by which this republic is sustained.' What 
says Cicero, that prince of orators and purest of heathen moralists? 
'This has ever been the persuasion of our citizens from the begin- 
ning, that the Gods are the proprietors and rulers of all things, 
and that those things which are done, are done by their judgment 
and power, and they are very kind to men, that they inspect every 
man's character, and that they make a distinction between the 
good and the evil.' He calls Jove ' the greatest and the best of 
beings, by whose nod and pleasure, the heavens and the earth 
and the seas are ruled, who frequently, with violent winds and 
hurricanes, and with excessive heat and intolerable cold, has af- 
flicted men, demolished cities and destroyed the fruits of the 



* See Appendix, Note (B). 



17 



earth, and who, on the other hand, gives us all our blessings.' 
' Who is there,' he says, ' so mad when he takes a view of the 
heavens, who does not perceive that there is a God, and should 
think that those things which are made with so much wisdom that 
human art can hardly attain to a knowledge of their order and revo- 
lutions, were made by chance, or having discovered that there is 
a God, does not also discover that it is by his Providence, that this 
whole empire was founded, increased and preserved.' When this 
great man, who was equally the patriot and wise philosopher, had 
defeated a daring conspiracy against the commonwealth, see how 
he ascribes it to the same Providence. 'Who is there, O Ro- 
mans, so averse from truth, so presumptuous, so bereft of his 
senses, as to deny that all these things which we see, and especially 
this city, are managed by the power and Providence of God. If 
I should say that it was I who defeated these conspirators, I should 
take too much upon me, and my arrogance would be insufferable. 
It was the Supreme God, it was he that defeated them; it was his 
will to preserve our capitol; his will to preserve this city and tliese 
temples. It was under the conduct of the immortal God, that I 
formed this judgment and determination, and made such a dis- 
covery of the plot.' The same Cicero said to the Atheists of 
his day, 'If the Gods neither can, nor will assist us, nor take any 
care of us; if they take no notice of what we do, and nothing can 
proceed from them which affects the life of man, why should we 
pay them worship and honor? why should we pray to them?' 

When we read such sentiments from the writings of unenlight- 
ened heathens, and think how many, even professing Christians, 
fall short of such pious faith in God's Providence, we cannot but 
exclaim, ' O, for a Pagan zeal in christian hearts.' However de- 
fective classical education may be, as conducted in our schools 
and colleges ; however objectionable many things which we read 
in the ancient poets and historians, yet must it be confessed, that 
there is often, even generally, to be seen in them a spirit of piety, 
a reverence for the Gods and all holy things, which is calculated 
to cherish in the youthful breast a respect for religion. Impious 
men are there represented as wicked and dangerous persons, who 
regard not the sanctity of oaths, and therefore are not to be trusted. 
In vain do we look for the same spirit of piety in too many of 
the fictitious and sentimental poems and novels so popular in 
Christendom.* 

The best of the ancient poets, historians and philosophers, 
were strengthened in their religious sentiments and encouraged to 

* See Appendix, Note (C). 
3 



18 



promote a reverence toward all holy things, by perceiving the 
character and conduct of those who despised them. We have 
already mentioned the Atheism of Epicurus, and the dreadful 
consequences of it, wherever it prevailed. There is but one 
other instance of such infidelity embodied in a system and em- 
braced by a sect in ancient times ; and that is to be found in the 
Saducees of Judea. They were the Epicureans of Israel, ac- 
knowledging, perhaps, the existence of a God, but denying his 
particular concern in the affairs of mortals, and affirming that there 
was no resurrection of the body, no separate spirit, no judgment, 
no hereafter. ' Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die,' was 
their motto. And they did eat and drink, and in every thing, they 
acted as those who were to die to-morrow, and to be accountable 
to no one for the actions of to-day. Josephiis, the Jewish histo- 
rian, informs us that they were, without doubt, the most licentious, 
cruel, inhuman and ferocious beings of that age. Ah ! what would 
the ancient world have been, had all been Epicureans or all Sadu- 
cees. Corrupt as it was, yet must we believe, if these Atheistic 
sentiments had generally prevailed, the wickedness of man would 
have reached far beyond any thing yet seen, and the human 
race must, by its own lusts and violence and bloodshed, have 
been nearly extinguished. 

But, perhaps, some may say, these are distant things; you go 
far back into the history of man ; we cannot prove so certainly 
how these things were. But admit that they are, as-recorded in 
history, has not philosophy been improved ; have we not become 
wiser than the ancients? Dare you bring such charges against 
modern infidelity, many of whose disciples have been ornaments 
to society and benfactors to mankind ? For the real tendency of 
any system, brethren, we must look to the general effects result- 
ing from it, in some case or cases where it is fully tried. Has 
any such occurred in more modern times under the improved 
system of infidel philosophy? Yes, brethren, it has pleased the 
Almighty ruler of the universe, to permit this experiment to be 
made on a larger scale than at any previous period in the history of 
man, in order, no doubt, to furnish to the later ages of the world, 
another and most impressive evidence of the awful crime of re- 
nouncing his faith and fear. In a certain nation of Europe, famed 
for arts and sciences, and for all that is polite, and refined, and 
heroic, there arose, during the last century, a number of the most 
subtle, ingenious, learned, philosophical, and withal most diligent, 
indefatigable and daring enemies of all religion which the world 
ever witnessed. They appeared at a time when every thing was 
most favorable to their enterprise ; when the corruptions of true 



19 



religion had prepared die minds of men for rejecting all religion. 
Deep laid were their schemes, and well concerted all their plans. 
Their war was against every thing holy, every thing venerable, 
against every throne and every altar; but their favorite motto was, 
O, how I shudder to utter it, 'crush the wretch,' meaning thereby 
the blessed Author of our Religion.^ This, brethren, was the 
watchword of Voltaire and his impious band of sworn foes to re- 
ligion. They made France, and the countries around, to swarm 
with books, and magazines, and papers, and small tracts, which 
insidiously dealt out the deadly poison in such portions and with 
such mixtures as was deemed most advisable. The poison took ef- 
fect; the contagion spread far and wide; among all classes a gene- 
ral infection prevailed ; a restlessness and discontent under all 
institutions, civil and religious, began to agitate the minds of men. 
Reformation, change, was the cry on every side, and throughout 
the land. The new philosophy was filled with mighty promises 
of the return of golden ages, or of still more enchanting ones, 
under the guidance of reason. The perfectibility of man, was 
the beautiful theme on which the philosophers delighted to descant ; 
and the lovely vision which floated before the fancies of their de- 
luded votaries, to be realised when all the follies, and prejudices, 
and dull ceremonies of religion should be done away. I need not 
tell you, my brethren, that there was a public, national renunciation 
of religion by the decree of the leaders in this heaven-daring 
revolution ; that the holy Sabbath was abolished or extended to a 
longer period ; that the temples of God were shut up, and his 
priests murdered ; that death was proclaimed to be an eternal sleep ; 
that the goddess of reason was set up in form of a lewd prosti- 
tute in the great hall of Atheistic legislation, as more worthy to 
be worshipped than the great Jehovah; that profane hymns were 
sung in honor of deified reason. And need I tell you, my hear- 
ers, of other events that were transpiring at that time, or soon fol- 
lowed after in the train of such awful impieties? Need I ask, 
where, in the history of man, are to be found such horrible atro- 
cities as were then committed, and in the sacred but abused 
names of liberty and reason? It pleased the Almighty to let loose 
these monsters of impiety against each other after they had been 
maddened with the blood of those more innocent ones, who were the 
first victims of their fury. The slightest difference of sentiment, 
or the least opposition of interest, was enough to rouse all their 
rage against each other, and they were executed by thousands, 
on a new and improved method of decapitation. The streets of 



See Appendix, Note (D) 



20 



Paris flowed, and the rivers of France were deeply died widi the 
blood of her citizens, till, at length, wearied with crime, sickened 
with carnage, and seeing no hope of better things, the poor de- 
ceived nation, which had waged war against all government, and 
all religion, sunk down into the arms of a military despotism, and 
returned back to the bosom of the corruptest church in Christen- 
dom. The nation could not exist without religion. Such ever 
has been, and ever must be, the issue of every attempt on the 
part of man, whether as a sect of philosophers or a nation of in- 
fidels, to renounce allegiance to Heaven and live without God, in 
the world.* But it is high time that I come to the application of 
this discourse. 

We have asserted the doctrine of God's moral government of 
men by means of those afflictive dispensations which are called 
his judgments. We have intimated that one obstacle to the ac- 
knowledgment of this, is, that it seems to imply guilt on the part of 
the sufferers, and great anger on the part of God towards them. 
The contrary doctrine is a quieting to our fears, and a relief to 
our consciences. Although a candid acknowledgment has been 
made by those most deeply interested in this Institution, that God 
hath done this thing, yet in some minds there may be a reluctance 
to admit it in all its moral bearing, lest it should seem to imply 
that this Institution is an offence unto God, and that he wills its 
destruction. Let us see whether such a conclusion must be 
drawn from such an act on the part of God. The Almighty has 
been pleased, sometimes, to cause the earth to open and swallow 
up whole cities, with the inhabitants thereof, and at others to rain 
hail stones, and coals of fire which have burnt up the cities with 
the inhabitants thereof. Theatres have been wrapped in flames, 
and the unhappy votaries of pleasure have been consumed almost 
in a moment. But let it be remembered, that temples erected to 
the living God have also been consumed by fire from heaven, 
whose lightning hath blasted them and the pious worshippers 
therein. Shall we say, then, that such dispensations are manifest 
proofs that God is so angry with all such places as to will their 
destruction, and that they should never more rise from their ruins? 
God forbid. Such a rule as this would condemn the holiest insti- 
tutions, equally with the unholiest. We must adopt some other 
method of judging the unlawfulness of every work of man. We 
must take it to the revealed law and testimony of God, and, judg- 
ing it by that, determine whether it be right or wrong. Having 
thus decided the lawfulness or unlawfulness of things, we are then 



* See Appendix, Note (E^. 



21 



more competent to estimate, aright, the intent of God's judgment 
in relation to the same. If the things be right in themselves, 
judgments befalling them do not make them wrong, but are only- 
intended for the correction of some evil in their conduct, or for 
their greater perfection. If the things be wrong in themselves, 
God's law deciding, then may we indeed infer the worst from the 
judgments of heaven ; then should we utterly abandon the work of 
our hands, which ought never to have been undertaken, for God 
is against it. That the Almighty is angry at institutions of learn- 
ing so as to will their destruction, while they pursue, in a proper 
manner, the great purposes for which they are designed, can never 
be supposed. In all ages he hath blessed them too abundantly, 
and religion is too deeply indebted to literature, as is literature to 
religion, to admit such a thought. Too many able defenders of 
the faith have been trained up in the seats of learning, and too 
many noble works have issued from their halls, and too many 
youths have there become wise unto salvation, to allow the suppo- 
sition, that God is against them. Only let them be conducted in 
his fear, and to his glory, by educating the young for usefulness 
in this life and glory in the next, and no institutions upon earth can 
be more dear to God. 

The design of God, therefore, in these dispensations, and the 
use to be made of them by us, are as plain as they are important. 
When God visits us with the rod of affliction, it is that we may 
search our hearts, and try our ways, and turn to him. When his 
judgments are abroad in the earth, it is that the inhabitants may 
learn righteousness. Does it not, then, become all concerned in 
this institution to ask, may not these judgments have been intend- 
ed to stir us up to more zeal in rendering it holy and acceptable to 
God ? Should they not ask, with what views and hopes have we 
entered upon this work ? Did we acknowledge the Almighty and 
feel that, without his blessing, we could not prosper ; or was our 
hope from the talents and favor of man ? Have we not only in- 
voked the aid and placed it under the guardian care of God, but 
sincerely dedicated it to him, wishing to make it an instrument of 
glory in our land by training up youths, not merely in human lite- 
rature, but in the sublimest of all sciences, and the noblest of all 
virtues, the knowledge and love of God ? If such have not been 
the principles on which this institution was reared, or on which it 
is now conducted, is it superstition or weakness to ask, whether 
these visitations have not been sent to show the rulers thereof, 
their entire dependence upon God ? See how easily the Almigh- 
ty can blast all their high hopes and dash all their noble schemes 
to the earth. See how quickly he can send a plague or pesti- 



22 



lence through these buildings, and scatter far and wide the young 
tenants thereof, and strike such a panic through the hearts of pa- 
rents and friends, that you can scarce recall them. O! it is a 
hazardous experiment to undertake the conduct of such an insti- 
tution, in which the minds of young immortal, and rational beings 
are to be instructed, and their passions restrained, and their ac- 
tions regulated, without constantly and earnestly imploring and 
seeking the aid of God in the way of his appointment. It cannot 
be done. With all the assistance that heaven is pleased to grant 
in answer to humble supplication, and in aid of faithful endeavors, 
it can scarcely be done. I know the difficulties of this work ; I 
am well aware of the peculiar difficulties of it in this place; and 
am not upbraiding those who are sincerely desirous to do all that 
is right. But still, as the minister of God, requested to speak on 
this occasion, I can take no other view of the subject than that 
which has been presented ; and am firmly convinced from the 
word of God and the past history of man, that any attempt to suc- 
ceed in such a work without invoking and securing the blessing of 
God, must fail of permanent success. In every age of the world, 
the instructers of youth have been deeply impressed with the im- 
portance of inculcating reverence to the Gods, and making reli- 
gion take its due part in their public exercises. The philosophers 
of Greece and Rome, Socrates and Plato, Seneca and Epictetus, 
failed not in this duty. The Rabbis of Judea made this a princi- 
pal science in their schools. And has it pleased the Almighty to 
clear away all the shadows and clouds and reveal the true hght 
to us ? Has he visited the earth and brought life and immortality 
to light by the gospel? Has he set this in opposition to all the wis- 
dom of man, philosophy, falsely so called, saying, ' Where is the 
wise, where is the scribe, where is the disputer of this world ? ' 
Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? And shall 
this be neglected and left out of the wide range of scientific re- 
search ? Shall we be content to be \yise for a few years only, and 
not for everlasting ages ? From the circle of sciences, shall the 
most important, and sublime, and interesdng be excluded? In an 
insdtution bearing in its very name a determination to take the 
widest range of intellectual improvement, shall that be omitted in 
which all are equally, because all are infinitely, concerned? Shall 
the roving and adventurous mind of youth be permitted to wander 
through all the labyrinths and mysteries of science without the 
sure light of heavenly truth to guide it? O, might I be permitted 
to speak to all the friends, and patrons, and directors of this col- 
lege in the language of plain but affectionate entreaty, 1 would be- 
seech them, as they would have it to find favor with God and 



23 



man, and be a mighty blessing to our State and country, that they 
solemnly dedicate it to Almighty God and place it under his guar- 
dian care. In his name, and by his laws let them rule over it. Ijet 
them see that the high motives and awful sanctions of religion be 
continually and eloquently presented to the minds of the youth com- 
mitted to their care. Let the divine philosophy of the Bible be 
here studied. Let the morality here taught, be the morality of the 
Bible.* Let the Bible, the Bible, which is the religion of Pro- 
testants be the text book of first esteem and most constant refer- 
ence. Let the history of our religion be learnt; let the proofs of 
Christianity be investigated ; let the prophecies of the most antient 
and venerable of books be read and compared with all other his- 
tories which attest their fulfilment. Let it not merely be said, 
that nothing is taught contrary to Christianity ; that the mind is 
left free to its own choice ; rather let it be announced to the world, 
that every thing which can be said, is said in its behalf, and every 
thing w^hich can be done, is done, in order to lead those immortal 
souls, who come hither for the high improvement of their faculdes, 
to the saving knowledge of him, w'ho is ' the true God and eternal 
life.' Then, indeed, may w^e be assured that this institution en- 
joys the smiles of a gracious Providence, and will be as others in 
our land, the fruitful nursery of Christian patriots, of learned de- 
fenders of the faith, of able and eloquent ministers of the Gospel, 
as well as of those who shall adorn by their worth and talents all 
other professions of our land, and shed a mild lustre over the 
most private walks of life. Then will the most anxious Christian 
parents, and the most fearfully jealous Christian ministers, cherish 
it with fondness, as the favored of God, and w^ith confidence com- 
mit, as to a fostering mother, the sons whom they have dedicated 
to heaven, and w^ould have to be trained up in its holy nurture and 
admonition; and then will those pious youths who have here been 
advancing in all divine, as well as human wisdom, ever look back 
to these seats of science with delight, and reckon among the hap- 
piest and best of their days, those spent within these consecrated 
walls, f 

I have trespassed long on your patience, my hearers, but is 
there not a cause ? Did not the subject justify, nay demand, the 
devotion of a few moments more than are usually given to such 
exercises ? Nor can I, even now, part without one word of affec- 
tionate counsel to the youth of this insdtution, for whose benefit I 
am sure this discourse was chiefly requested. I have had them 

* See Appendix, Note (F.) 
' t See Appendix, Note fGj. 



24 



ill my view during the whole of this argument, and trust that they 
have assented to its truth. To you, my young friends, the voice 
of this visitation has spoken in melting accents. Death has been 
twice in the midst of you, and at each visit has borne away some 
loved companion. On some of you, perhaps, was its cold hand 
laid, and you had thought to follow it into eternity ; but one who 
had the power of death undid its grasp and bid you live yet longer. 
And wherefore have you been spared, ye young immortals? 
Wherefore, but that you may be the better prepared when next 
it comes, and none may bid it spare you more? In order to this, 
I beseech you to give a most solemn consideration to the subject 
this day discussed. Examine for yourselves, and examine well, 
whether Christianity be true or false, be the work of God or the 
mere artifice of man. On this subject call no man master upon 
earth, for it is an affair in which your immortal souls are concern- 
ed, beyond all possible description or conception. Beware, I 
entreat you, one sentiment too commonly sported among the youth 
of our country, that the great and the learned usually reject Chris- 
tianity, or merely support it as an useful artifice. An assertion 
more unfounded never yet was made; a deception more base and 
cruel, never yet was practised on the ingenuous mind of youth. 
We are bold to affirm that the very contrary is the fact ; that the 
great mass of learning, talent and true greatness, has ever been 
on the side of revelation. Shew us one such who disbelieves, and 
we will produce you thousands who believe. And of those who 
disbelieve how many have destroyed the weight of their testimony 
by the most absurd opinions, or the rnost wicked practices.* 
How many of them have either by their writings evinced, or by 
their own declaration confessed, diat they had never carefully 
studied the holy Scriptures ? Not thus was it with a Locke, who 
having in early youth read and believed, devoted the last fifteen 
years of his life almost exclusively to the study of the Scriptures, 
and who left this memorable testimony behind him, ' Search the 
Scriptures, they have God for their author, salvation for their end, 
and trutli, without any mixture of error, for their matter.' Not 
thus was it with a Newton, who admitted nothing into his system 
but on the surest proof, and who declared the Bible to be the best 
attested of all books. Not thus was it with a Hale, the glory of 
the English bench, who for four successive reigns sat upon the 
highest tribunal of justice in England, weighing testimony, and de- 
ciding upon the lives and fortunes of men, and who, during all 
that time and till his latest breath, took the Bible for the rule of 



* Sec Appendix, Note (H ). 



25 



his faith and the law of his life. Not thus was it with Lord Ba- 
con, the father of that philosophy which laid aside all the vain 
logic of the schools, and utterly rejected all idle speculations, and 
called for proof before any thing was admitted as true, and who 
believed Christianity for the very reason, that it brought with it the 
proofs which the mind in search of truth demanded. Nor was it 
thus with Sir William Jones, who studied various languages, ex- 
plored the customs and manners of many nations, read many 
books, searched into the antiquities and mythologies of the East, 
and declared that in every antient book, and every Eastern land, 
he still found something which testified to the truth and inspiration 
and beauty of the Holy Scriptures.'^ Think not, for a moment, 
then, young men, that Christianity will not bear the searching 
light of science. She is herself the light of the world. By no 
term do the inspired writers so much delight to call her. The 
opposite system is darkness. Her enemies are they who hate the 
hght. She dares them to come forth in the full blaze of day. 

When and where did Christianity first appear ? At an age the 
most enlightened, the age of poets, philosophers and historians, 
when they had carried their improvements to the highest pitch, 
when men began to discover and ridicule the weakness and falsi- 
ties of Heathen Mythology, and to desert the Oracles of the Pa- 
gan Deities. At such an age did it appear. And where did it 
arise ? This thing was not done in a corner, but on a high hill. 
Mount Zion ; in the very centre of the civilized, commercial and 
literary world ; in the midst of the nations. There did Christianity 
first arise, thence came she boldly forth, and hfting up her voice, 
she cried aloud, 'Where is the wise, where is the scribe, where 
is the disputer of this world ? Hath not God made foolish the wis- 
dom of this world ?' She marched up to the gates of Rome, and 
Athens and Corinth, the seats of antient learning. She challenged 
their priests and their philosophers to the combat, and convicting 
the one of fraud and the other of folly, converted the more can- 
did and honorable to the faith. Nor has she ever sought the 
shades of night since that period. When darkness overspread the 
nations of Europe, then indeed was her glory eclipsed ; but when 
the light broke forth, then re-appeared her glory. And who, let 
me ask, kindled that light ? Who established schools and colleges, 
and studied antient languages, and read antient books, and wrote 
modern books ; who encouraged the arts and sciences ; who dived 
into the bowels of the earth, and pried into the secrets of nature, 
and analysed and sifted the most subtile essences of things ? Who 



* See Appendix, Note (I). 

4 



26 



but Christians did, and ever have done, these things ; for they have 
ever found that the more science and history and mythology and 
true philosophy are investigated, the more clearly will it appear 
that our religion is the revelation of God to man, vv^orthy of its 
divine author, and in perfect conformity to all his works ? And 
does Christianity fly from investigation ? No, young men, it is 
Infidelity that flies from the light. It is Infidelity which re- 
jects testimony the most conclusive, and, unable to reason, re- 
sorts to wit, and would make ridicule the test of truth ; or else 
bewildering herself and attempting to bewilder her opponents in 
the inextricable mazes of unintelligible metaphysics, at length lies 
down in utter despair. Trust her not, my young friends. Be- 
ware lest any man deceive you by a vain and deceitful philoso- 
phy. See to what atrocities of moral conduct, to what awful 
catastrophies she has ever led. Be warned by the experience 
of past ages, and choose that rehgion which has proved itself the 
best friend of man. Seize strong hold of it ; grapple it to your 
souls, and see if it will not prove the power of God to your salva- 
tion. Make trial of it, each one on your own hearts, whether it 
be true or false, of God or man. If it be false and vain, then re- 
ject it ; but if it be true, then hold it fast, for it is your life. Fear 
not the faces of men, despise their ridicule ; dare to be singular, 
if singular you must be, in the noblest of causes. Let God's 
word be your daily study ; daily bend your knees before his glo- 
rious majesty; never be ashamed to plead the cause of religion. 
Do not fear religion, my young friends. Think not that it is 
some dull and gloomy cloud overhanging the mind, and awing it 
into fearful silence. It is cheerful as the light of day, and happy 
as the smile of heaven. Come to it then, with all the desire of 
your souls, and drink deeply of this sacred fount, and you shall 
thirst no longer after the vain delights of earth. Young as you 
are, and prone to rejoice in the pleasures of this world, you will 
find that there are pleasures nobler far at your command. Is 
there, upon earth, a sight so interesting as that of a young man at 
a seat of learning, in the midst of temptation, surrounded by other 
youths of widely differing sentiments, yet steadily holding on the 
even tenor of his way, resisting pleasure, avoiding evil communi- 
cation, acting from religious principles, and not ashamed to call 
himself by the name, and seal himself with the seal of Christ? 
Have you seen none such, my young hearers? Amidst all your 
young associates, was there not one who loved his Saviour — not 
one whom you all loved, all esteemed — whom you could not but 
love, but esteem ; and who was a witness to the truth of that which 
I have spoken this day ? Was young Temple less beloved by you 



27 



all, because young Temple was a Christian ; because a portion of 
his Sabbaths was spent in teaching the young and ignorant; be- 
cause the Bible was his daily study? and when death was sent to 
summon him away, was he less happy ? Which one of you pre- 
sent, now in your minds most hostile to religion, and in your con- 
duct farthest removed from it, but would, if called to die, rather 
be as young Temple was, than as you now are ?^ And others 
there were, I am told, who, with their dying voices testified to the 
truth and excellency of religion ; who endeavored, and oh ! may 
it appear in the great day, not in vain, to cast themselves on the 
Redeemer's mercy. O ! young men, survivors of these loved 
companions, believe the testimony of their last and honest hour. 
Take heed to the latest and best counsel which they gave, and 
give yourselves up, earnestly and truly, to that religion, which is 
the most exquisite happiness of youth, the noblest honor of riper 
years, the crown of glory to old age, and the everlasting and in- 
conceivable bliss of the redeemed in heaven. 



* See Appendix, Note (J), 



APPENDIX. 



Note (A). 

The author finds himself mistaken as to the public declaration 
here said to have been made by die Faculty. This allusion was, 
primarily and chiefly, to a statement of the Professors in the pub- 
lic papers in the month of March last, relative to the sickness which 
had dispersed the students. The author has never, until within a 
few days, seen this statement, having only heard of it from others. 
The impression made upon his mind by the report of this publica- 
tion, was the same which has been conveyed in the sermon. In 
this view of it, he was confirmed, by receiving an invitation soon 
after, to commemorate the event in a religious manner; and by the 
pious reflections of the person chosen to make the request. On 
referring to the publication, it appears that there was a simple an- 
nouncement, that such a disease had existed ; that the causes of 
it were not to be discovered, and that such things had often oc- 
curred without any permanent causes of unhealthiness in the 
places where they had appeared. The author, having acknow- 
ledged this unintentional error, rests the view which he has taken 
of such dispensations on the general principles of Christianity and 
the consent of the pious in every age. 



Note (B). 

The following note is taken from the writings of Thomas Hart- 
well Home, and is found in his chapter on the necessity of Reve- 
lation. 

While Hume and Bolingbroke were propagating these senti- 
ments in England, Voltaire, Diderot, D'Alembert, Frederick II. 
King of Prussia, and other distinguished writers, had confederated 
for the avowed purpose of annihilating the Christian Religion. 
Their writings are too numerous to admit of extracts ; but it is in 
the posthumous works of the King of Prussia, that we see a faith- 
ful delineation of the real tenets and opinions of the most cele- 
brated philosophers of the continent, of the founders and legislators 
of the great empire of infidelity, with the philosophic monarch 



29 



himself at their head. Every secret of their hearts is there laid 
open in their familiar and confidential correspondence with each 
other ; and there, we see, that they were pretended deists, but 
real atheists ; that although the name of a Supreme Being was 
sometimes mentioned, yet it was seldom mentioned but with ridi- 
cule and contempt ; and that they never conceived Him to be any 
thing more than the principle that animates all nature, the source 
of life and motion, the sensorium of the universe ; but in other 
respects totally unconnected with this earth and its inhabitants. 
* In consequence of this doctrine, their philosophers, of course, re- 
jected all idea of a providence, and a moral governor of the world. 
They ascribed every effect to fate or fortune, to necessity or 
chance ; they denied the necessity of a soul distinct from the body ; 
they conceived man to be nothing more than an organised lump 
of matter, a mere machine, an ingenious piece of clock work, 
which, when ihe wheels refuse to act, stands still, and loses all 
power of motion for ever. They acknowledged nothing beyond 
the grave, no resurrection, no future existence, no future retribu- 
tion ; they considered death as an eternal sleep ; as the total ex- 
tinction of our being ; and they stigmatised all ppinions different 
from these with the names of superstition, bigotry, priestcraft, 
fanaticism and idolary.' Such are the various, contradictory and 
impious tenets promulgated by the most eminent champions of 
what is called Deism, (and which have been repeated in various 
ways by the opposers of revelation in our age) concerning religion, 
the worship of God, and the expectations of mankind respecting a 
future state. We shall only add, that though the infidels of the 
present day profess to be the disciples of nature, and to receive 
her unerring instructions, yet they differ from each other with an 
almost endless variety. Having gradually receded from true Chris- 
tianity to false, some are unbelievers in the nature, some in the 
providence, and others even in the existence of a God ; but all of 
them are unanimous in rejecting the divine testimony, and in re- 
nouncing the God of the Bible. 



Note (C). 

Some late Christian writers have drawn the attention of the re- 
ligious world to the great danger of the past and present mode of 
conducting a classical education, in which the minds of youth are 
too exclusively confined to the Heathen Mythology, and the ima- 
gination too conversant with descriptions and scenes of a demoral- 
izing cast. That Christianity should be neglected during any 



30 



period of education from infancy to manhood, is an evil which can 
never sufficiently be deplored. Nothing can compensate for this 
deficiency. If all other things must be slighted, or even utterly 
neglected, in order to do ample justice to this, who would hesitate 
a moment what to do ? But is this necessary, and may not both 
be duly attended to? While it is confessed that Christianity has 
been, and still is, most criminally neglected by classical teachers, 
yet it may be questioned whether some persons have not under- 
valued Pagan literature, and been too fearful of the Heathen My- 
thology ; not knowing or remembering how it stands connected 
with sacred truth, furnishing to the advocates for Christianity, ar- 
guments which the infidel finds it impossible to elude or oppose. 
The apostate Julian, the bitter foe and persecutor of Christianity, 
forbid the use of the Heathen classics to the primitive Christians, 
saying, * these men quote our books against us.' All the Mytho- 
logies of the antient world testify to the leading facts recorded in 
the Old Testament, and to the most striking features of the Patri- 
archal and Jewish dispensations; for, in truth, they were originally 
derived from these sources, and are only corruptions of the same. 
As the nations which descended from Noah were dispersed through 
the earth, they carried with them the traditions and religious cer- 
emonies of their great ancestor, the corruptions of which consti- 
tuted the Mythologies of the Heathen world. There is yet want- 
ing, for the use of our schools and colleges, a popular work, tracing 
the striking resemblances between the two. 



Note (D). 

The following sketch of the character of Voltaire, is from a 
brief but animated view of the history of the Christian Church, 
by the Rev. Mr. Croly. 

In the midst of this tempest of scorn, an extraordinary man 
arose, to guide and deepen it into public ruin. Voltaire, a per- 
sonal profligate, possessing a vast variety of that superficial know- 
ledge which gives importance to folly ; frantic for popularity, which 
he solicited at all hazards ; and sufficiently opulent to relieve him 
from the necessity of any labors but those of national undoing. 
Holding but an inferior rank in all the manlier provinces of the 
mind, in science, poetry and philosophy 5 he was the prince of 
scorners. The splenetic pleasantry which stimulates the wearied 
tastes of high life, the grossness which, half concealed, captivates 
the loose, without offence to their feeble decorum ; and the easy 



31 



brilliancy which throws what colors it will on the darker features 
of its purpose, made Voltaire the very genius of France. But 
under this smooth and sparkling surface, reflecting like ice all the 
lights flung upon it, there was a dark and fathomless depth of ma- 
lignity. He hated government; he hated morals; he hated man; 
he hated religion. He sometimes bursts out into exclamations of 
rage and insane fury, against all that we honor as best and holiest, 
that sound less the voice of human lips than the echoes of the 
final place of agony and despair. 

A tribe worthy of his succession, showy, ambitious and malig- 
nant, followed ; each with some vivid literary contribution, some 
powerful and popular work, a new deposite of combustion in that 
mighty mine on which stood, in thin and fatal security, the throne 
of France. 



Note (E). 

The following is also from the pen of the Rev. Mr. Horne. 
See his chapter on the necessity of the Christian Revelation. 

The only instance in which the avowed rejectors of revelation 
have possessed the supreme power and government of a country, 
and have attempted to dispose of human happiness according to 
their own doctrines and wishes, is that of France during the 
greater part of the revolution, which, it is now well known, was 
effected by the abettors of infidelity. The great majority of the 
nation had become infidels. The name and profession of Chris- 
tianity was renounced by the legislature. Death was declared, by 
an act of the republican government, to be an eternal sleep. Pub- 
lic worship was abolished. The churches were converted into 
' temples of reason,' in which atheistical and licentious homilies 
were substituted for the proscribed service, and an absurd aud lu- 
dicrous imitation of the pagan mythology was exhibited under the 
tide of the ' religion of reason.' In the principal church of every 
town, a tutelary goddess was installed with a ceremony equally 
pedantic, frivolous and profane ; and the females to personify 
this new divinity were mostly prostitutes, who received the adora- 
tions of the attendant municipal officers, and of the multitudes 
whom fear, or force, or motives of gain, had collected together on 
the occasion. Contempt for religion or decency, became the test 
of attachment to the government, and the gross infraction of any 
moral or social duty, was deemed a proof of civism and a victory 
over prejudice. All distinctions of right and wrong were con- 



32 



founded. The grossest debaucheries triumphed. Then proscrip- 
tion followed upon proscription ; tragedy followed after tragedy, 
in almost breathless succession, on the theatre of France ; almost 
the whole nation was converted into a horde of assassins. De- 
mocracy and Atheism, hand in hand, desolated the country, and 
converted it into one great field of rapine and of blood ! The 
moral and social ties were unloosed, or rather torn asunder. For 
a man to accuse his own father was declared to be an act of civ- 
ism worthy of a true republican ; and to neglect it was pronounced 
a crime that should be punished with death. Accordingly, women 
denounced their husbands, and mothers their sons, as bad citizens 
or traitors. While many women, not of the dress of the common 
people, nor of infamous reputation, but respectable in character 
and appearance, seized, widi savage ferocity, between their teeth, 
the mangled limbs of their countrymen. France, during this pe- 
riod, was a theatre of crimes, which, after all preceding perpetra- 
tions, have excited, in the mind of every spectator, amazement 
and horror. The miseries suffered by that single nation have 
changed all the histories of the preceding sufferings of mankind into 
idle tales, and have been enhanced and multiplied without a prece- 
dent, without a number and without a name. The kingdom ap- 
peared to be changed into one great prison ; the inhabitants con- 
verted into felons ; and the common doom of man commuted for 
the violence of the sword and the bayonet, the sucking boat and 
the guillotine. To contemplative men, it seemed, for a season, as 
if the knell of the whole nation was tolled, and the world summon- 
ed to its execution and its funeral. Within the short time of ten 
years, not less than three millions of human beings are supposed 
to have perished in that single country, by the influence of Athe- 
ism. Were the world to adopt and be governed by the doctrines 
of revolutionary France, what crimes would not mankind perpe- 
trate ? What agonies would they not suffer ? 

The following account is found in the Life of Napoleon, by 
Scott. See first volume, seventeenth chapter. 

An unhappy man, named Gobet, Constitutional Bishop of Paris, 
was brought forward to play the principal part in the most impu- 
dent and scandalous farce, ever acted in the face of a national 
representation. 

It is said that the leaders of the scene had some difficulty in 
inducing the bishop to comply with the task assigned him, which, 
after all, he executed, not without present tears, and subsequent 
remorse. But he did play the part prescribed. He was brought 
forward in full procession, to declare to the Convention, that the 
religion which he had taught so many years, was, in every res- 



33 



pect, a piece of priestcraft, which had no foundation, either in his- 
tory or sacred truth. He disowned, in solemn and explicit terms, 
the existence of the Deity, to whose worship he had been conse- 
crated, and devoted himself in future to the homage of Liberty, 
Equality, Virtue, and Morality. He then laid on the table his 
Episcopal decorations, and received a fraternal embrace from the 
President of the Convention. Several apostate priests followed 
the example of this prelate. The gold and silver plate of the 
churches was seized upon and desecrated ; processions entered 
the Convention, travestied in priesdy garments, and singing the 
most profane hymns; while many of the chalices and sacred ves- 
sels were applied by Chauraette and Hebert to the celebration of 
their own impious orgies. The world, for the first time, heard an 
assembly of men, born and educated in civilization, and assuming 
the right to govern one of the finest of the Europeans nations, up- 
lift dieir united voice to deny the most solemn truth which man's 
soul receives, and renounce unanimously the belief and worship 
of a Deity. For a short time the same mad profanity continued 
to be acted upon. One of the ceremonies of this insane time 
stands unrivalled for absurdity, combined with impiety. The 
doors of the Convention were thrown open to a band of musicians, 
preceded by whom, the members of the Municipal Body entered 
in solemn procession, singing a hymn in praise of liberty, and es- 
corting as the object of their future worship, a veiled female, whom 
they termed the Goddess of Reason. Being brought within the 
bar, she was unveiled with great form, and placed on the right 
of the President ; when she was generally recognised as a dancing 
girl of the Opera, with whose charms most of the persons present 
were acquainted from her appearance on the stage. To this per- 
son, as the fittest representative of that Reason whom they wor- 
shipped, the National Convention of France rendered public 
homage. 

This impious and ridiculous mummery had a certain fashion ; 
and the installation of the Goddess of Reason was renewed and 
imitated throughout the nation, in such places where the inhabi- 
tants wished to show themselves equal to all the heights of the 
Revolution. The churches were in most districts of France, 
closed against priests and worshippers. The bells were broken 
and cast into cannon, the whole ecclesiastical establishment de- 
stroyed, and the republican inscription over the cemeteries declar- 
ing death to be perpetual sleep, announced to those who lived 
under that dominion, that they were to hope no redress even in 
the next world. 

5 



34 



Intimately connected with these laws affecting religion, was that 
which reduced the union of marriage, the most sacred engage- 
ment which human beings can form, and the permanence of which 
leads most strongly to the consohdation of society, to the state of 
a mere civil contract of a transitory character, which any two per- 
sons might engage in and cast loose at pleasure. If fiends had 
set themselves to w^ork to discover a mode of most effectually de- 
stroying whatever is venerable, graceful or permanent in domestic 
life, and of obtaining, at the same time, an assurance that the mis- 
chief which it was their object to create, should be perpetuated 
from one generation to another, they could not have invented a 
more effectual plan. 



Note (F). 

It was not designed to confine the attention of the students of 
Moral Philosophy, stiictly to that system of morals, and that rule 
of duty, which God has been pleased to reveal to us in the sacred 
Scriptures. In all such institutions a wader range has been taken. 
The faculties of the mind, and the affections of the heart, and all 
tlie propensities of our nature have been brought under consider- 
ation, and the speculations of philosophers, antient and modern, 
have been critically examined. When this is done soberly and 
humbly, and not in a spirit of scepticism and proud independence 
of revelation, good, and not evil, will be the result. All such in- 
quiries must end in a conviction that the morality of the Bible is 
that which is adapted to the nature of man, by him who formed 
that nature, and who knew what was in man. Any speculations 
at variance with this, and contrary to this great and inspired text 
book, must be wrong, or else this book is wrong. The celebrated 
Doctor Chalmers, the great moral philosopher of Scotiand, has 
adopted for the use of his class, the able and excellent work of 
Butler, which shows the striking analogy between natural and re- 
vealed religion. The Bible, then, the Bible which is the religion 
of Protestants, contains the moral law which is for our hearts and 
lives, and however lawful and proper it may be to show the ex- 
cellency of this, by noticing its suitableness to our nature, and its 
superiority to all other systems ever devised by man, it can never 
be lawful to deviate from it. The more constant our reference to 
it, the more surely will we embrace the true morality. Infidels 
have indeed departed widely from it, and have given to the world, 
as will be shown in a subsequent note, some monstrous doctrines 
in its place. 



35 



Note (G). 

Some explanation is necessary, to prevent misconception of the 
author's meaning, in relation to the introduction of religion as a 
part of that extensive circle of sciences proposed to be taught at 
the University. Although the general terms used by him might 
be so construed, he did not design to convey the idea that there 
should be a Professor of Theology, who should teach the whole 
subject of divinity, in all its branches, so as to educate young men 
as for the ministry. This has for many years past, by the com- 
mon consent of Christians in our country, been transferred to 
Theological Schools, having regular Professors, entirely devoted 
to this duty. Such institutions are greatly preferred on many ac- 
counts. The author was only pleading for such attention to reli- 
gious worship during the days of the week, and such religious in- 
structions on the Sabbath, and such religious government of the 
institution at all times, as would afford to all the youth belonging 
to it, every possible opportunity and inducement to become wise 
unto salvation. This is done in most of the Colleges in our coun- 
try, by means of the Professors; such of them at least who are 
pious nien, or ministers of the Gospel. These, by turns, perform 
rehgious services morning and evening, at which the students are 
required to be present, and, on the Sabbath, divide the students 
into classes, and instruct them in the history contained in the Bi- 
ble, the true meaning of the most important parts of it, the evi- 
dences attesting the truth of it, and the conformity of the word, to 
the works of God. This might be effected, to a certain extent at 
least, by the appointment of a suitable individual as Chaplain to 
the institution, who should be entirely devoted to this duty, and 
who should be as firmly supported in the discharge of it as any 
Professor. To this, I am well aware, it will be objected, that as 
this is an institution of the State, belonging equally to all its citi- 
zens and to all denominations of Christians, it would be difficult 
to make such appointment whhout exciting the jealousies and fears 
of rival sects. To which 1 reply, that in an affair confessedly so 
important, and in which there is such danger of offending Heaven 
and losing its favor, and the favor of the most pious of our citizens, 
we should not be too easily deterred from attempting, at least, to 
perform what promises so much good. Perhaps in this, as in 
many other instances, it might be found that our fears were greater 
than they need have been. Let us look for encouragement to 
some other public institutions in our land, which have set us the 
example. The Congress of the United States and the Legisla- 
tures of the different States, are composed of all denominations, 



36 



and are supported out of the public treasury, and yet the most of 
them have Chaplains to perform religious duties each day, and on 
the Sabbath. The institution at West Point and our public arm- 
ed vessels, are similarly constituted ; and these also have Chap- 
lains ; nor have we heard of any difficulty attending their appoint- 
ments, or any complaints made against them. There may have 
been, but the author is not aware of them. He fears, indeed, 
that as much good has not resulted from these appointments as 
could be desired ; but neither w^as as much to have been expected 
as from one in a literary institution, where there is a faithful co- 
operation on the part of all the Professors and rulers, in order to 
give due efficacy to the appointment, without which co-operation, 
indeed, but litde is to be expected. Other institutions there are 
in our land, holding out yet greater encouragement to this experi- 
ment, and calculated to diminish our fears of provoking the jeal- 
ousy of rival interests. There are Colleges in our land under the 
patronage of State Legislatures, and others which have been rear- 
ed and are supported by persons of different religious sentiments 
and sects, all of which are of course exposed to this same diffi- 
culty and liable to the same danger of giving offence in attempt- 
ing to appoint ministers of the Gospel to take part in the literary 
as well as religious conduct of the institution, and yet they have 
encountered tlie difficulty, and escaped the danger, and accom- 
plished the good. The author could mention some, and doubts 
not there are many others. Some years since, in travCi ' .g 
through the United States, he visited different Colleges, and fo:ind 
ministers of the Gospel taking part in their management. In the 
College of South Carolina, a Baptist minister presided and an 
Episcopal minister was Professor. In Chapel Hill College, of 
North Carolina, a Presbyterian minister presided, and an Episco- 
pal minister was Professor, and each took part in the religious 
services of the College. In various Colleges to the north, the 
same union of different denominations took place in the govern- 
ment. In the College of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the same has 
ever been, since the author's recollection. And shall Virginia 
alone be unable to do this ? Because the University is an institu- 
tion of the people or the Legislature, must it necessarily be de- 
void of this feature ? I, for one, am ready to say, let the experi- 
ment be made, and let it be seen whether the Chrisdans of Vir- 
ginia are so selfish and jealous, and narrow-minded, as to object ; 
if so, let the shame rest upon them and let infidels triumph. I 
trust the believers of the Gospel, in all the different denominations, 
will not suffer themselves to be misled by the artful and the bigot- 
ed who profess to be Christians ; neither by the irreligious who 



37 



would gladly embroil them in a contest which must end in dis- 
grace to the cause. Christian parents will surely wish to see the 
institution to which they would send their sons, under such reli- 
gious government, as, by the blessing of God, will carry on that 
work, which they have been endeavoring to foster in their hearts 
at home. Is there not reasonable ground for the belief, that such 
daily worship of God, on each morning and evening, in short and 
suitable prayers, accompanied by a few well selected verses out of 
the book of God, and the devotion of a part of each Sabbath to 
religious exercises and instructions, would tend to the preservation 
of order during the week, to the increase not only of religious 
knowledge, but of all useful science, to the redemption of the 
Sabbath from profanation (which, unless the best, is always the 
worst day of the seven) and to the promotion of all the best inte- 
rests of the institution. We can see no evil hkely to result from 
the trial, and we tliink we can see much probable good. 



Note(H.) 

This note is also from the Rev. Mr. Home's work. 

The following sentiments of some leading infidels, will show 
into what errors and absurdities they run who reject the Bible. 

Lord Herbert declared, that the indulgence of lust and anger 
is no more to be blamed, than the thirst occasioned by the drop- 
sy, or the drowsiness occasioned by lethargy. 

Mr. Hobbes asserted, that the civil or municipal law, is the only 
foundation of right and wrong ; that when there is no civil law, 
every man's judgment, is the only standard of right and wrong ; 
that the sovereign is not bound by any obligation of truth and 
justice, and can do no wrong to his subjects ; that every man has 
a right to all things, and may lawfully get them if he can. 

Lord Bolingbroke taught, that ambition, the lust of power, sen- 
suality and avarice, may be lawfully gratified, if they can be safe- 
ly gratified ; that man lives only in the present world, and is only 
a superior animal ; that the chief end of man is to gratify the ap- 
petites and inclinations of the flesh ; that modesty is inspired by mere 
prejudice; that polygamy is a part of the law, or religion of nature. 

Mr. Hume, the immorality of whose principles is discovered in 
his 'Private Correspondence,' lately published, maintained, that 
self denial and humility are not virtues, but are useless and mis- 
chievous; that pride, self valuation, ingenuity, eloquence, quick- 
ness of thought, easiness of expression, delicacy of taste, strength 
of body, are virtues ; and consequently to want honesty, to want 



38 



understanding, and to want virtue, are equally the subjects of mo- 
ral disapprobation ; and that suicide and adultery are perfectly 
allowable. 

Voltaire and Helvetius advocated the most unlimited indulgence 
of the animal appetites ; and the former acted according to his 
principles. Rousseau resorted to his feelings as the only stand- 
ard of morality. ' I ha ve only to consult myself,' said he, ' concern- 
ing what I do. All that I feel to be right, is right ; whatever I feel 
to be wrong, is wrong. All the morality of our actions lies in the 
judgment we form of them.' And just before the French revolu- 
tion broke out, it is a known fact, that the idea of moral obligation 
was exploded among the infidel clubs that existed in every part 
of France. Such is the morality taught by some of those, who, in 
the last century, claimed to be received as the masters of reason. 

With regard to the influence of Deism on individuals, we may 
remark, that the effects which it produces are perfectly in unison 
with the principles which its advocates had maintained. In order 
to accomplish their designs, there is no baseness in hypocrisy to 
which they have not submitted. Almost all of them have worn a 
mask of friendship, that they might stab Christianity to the heart. 
They have professed a reverence for it, while they were aiming to 
destroy it. Collins, though he had no belief in Christianity, yet 
quahfied himself for civil office by partaking of the Lord's supper ; 
and Shaftesbury and others were guilty of the same base hypocri- 
sy. Such faithless professions, such gross violations of truth, in 
Christians, would have been proclaimed to the universe by these 
very writers, as infamous desertions of principle and decency. 

The morals of Rochester and Wharton need no comment. 
Woolston was a gross blasphemer. Blount solicited his sister in 
law to marry him, and being refused, shot himself. Tindal was 
originally a protestant, then turned papist, then protestant again, 
merely to suit the times ; and was, at the same time, infamous for 
vice in general and the total want of principle. He is said to have 
died with this prayer in his mouth : ' If there is a God, I desire 
that he may have mercy on me.' Hobbes wrote his Leviathan 
to serve the cause of Charles the first, but finding him fail of suc- 
cess, he turned it to the defence of Cromwell, and made a merit 
of this fact to the usurper, as Hobbes himself unblushingly de- 
clared to Lord Clarendon. Morgan had no regard to truth, as is 
evident from his numerous falsifications of Scripture, as well as 
from the vile hypocrisy of professing himself a Christian in those 
very writings in which he labored to destroy Christianity. Vol- 
taire in a letter now remaining, requested his friend D'Alembert, 
to tell for him a direct and palpable lie, by denying that he was 



39 



the author of the Philosophical Dictionary. D'Alembert, in his 
answer, informed him that he had told the lie. Voltaire has in- 
deed expressed his own moral character in the following words : 
'Monsieur Abbe, I must be read, no matter whether I am believ- 
ed or not.' He also solemnly professed to believe the Catholic 
religion, although at the same time he doubted the existence of a 
God : and at the very moment he was plotting the destruction of 
Christianity and introducing the awful watch word of his party, 
Ecrasez VEnfame — at that very moment, with bended knee and 
uplifted eye, he adored the cross of Christ, and received the com- 
munion in the church of Rome. 

The dishonest perjury, and gross profligacy of Rousseau, who 
alternately professed and abjured the Roman Catholic and Protes- 
tant religion, without believing either, and who died in the very 
act of uttering a notorious falsehood to his Creator, as well as of 
Paine and other advocates of infidelity, are too notorious to render 
it necessary to pollute these pages with the detail of them. ■ 



Note (I). 

To the great and good men mentioned in the sermon, we may 
add two names, which must be dear to the youth of Virginia^ 
Washington and Henry. The former, in his Farewell Address to 
the People of the United States, thus writes of religion. ' Of all 
the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, re- 
ligion and morality are indispensible supports. In vain would that 
man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labour to subvert 
these great pillars of human happiness — these firmest props of 
men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious 
man, ought to respect and cherish them. A volume could not trace 
all their connexions with private and public felicity. Let it be sim- 
ply asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for 
life, — ^if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which 
are the instruments of investigation in the courts of justice ? And 
let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be 
maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the 
influence of refined education on minds of a peculiar structure, 
reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national mo- 
j-ality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.' 

Of the sentiments of Patrick Henry on this subject, the follow- 
ing extract from Mr. Wirt's Life of this great orator and patriot,, 
will give us a just idea. 

' A friend who visited him not long before his death, found him 



40 



engaged in reading the Bible : ' here,' said he, holding it up, ' is 
a book worth more than all the other books that were ever print- 
ed ; yet it is my misfortune never to have found time to read it, 
with the proper attention and feeling, till lately. I trust in the 
mercy of Heaven, that it is not yet too late.' He was much pleased 
with Soame Jenyns' View of the Internal Evidences of the Chris- 
tian Religion ; so much so, that about the year 1790, he had an 
impression of it struck at his own expense, and distributed among 
the people. His other favorite works on the subject were 'Dod- 
dridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul,' and ' Buder's 
Analogy of Rehgion, Natural and Revealed.' This latter work, 
he used at one period of his life, to style, by way of pre-eminence, 
his hible. The selection proves not only the piety of his temper, 
but the correctness of his taste, and his relish for profound and 
vigorous disquisition.' 



Note (J). 

The interesting youth here alluded to, was from Essex county, 
Virginia, and so truly pious and conscientious was he in his whole 
character and conduct, that all who knew him, were constrained 
to love and esteem him. In his life, and in his death, he illustra- 
ted the beauty of hohness in an eminent degree. 

The author cannot conclude, without recommending to the 
young men, whose benefit has ever been kept in view, during the 
preceding discourse and notes, the memoirs of two talented, 
and pious youths, who have been within a few years past, suddenly 
taken from the colleges of Scodand, and removed to higher seats 
of learning and piety in the kingdom of Heaven. He alludes to 
the memoirs of Durant and Urquhart, which have been repub- 
lished in this country, and ought to be found in all our schools and 
colleges. Perhaps this hint may lead some Christian parent to 
obtain them for his son, or some youth of Virginia to procure them 
for himself; if so, it will not be in vain. 



HT In consequence of a mistake in the manuscript, an error escaped, page 
32, in a part of this edition. The error is this ; Note E. is divided, the refer- 
ence to the subsequent note being inserted in it. The reader is requested to 
mark out the words " Note F." on page 32 ; and observe, that Note E. com- 
mences on page 31, and ends on page 34, where Note F. properly commences. 



CONCLUSION. 



The sentiments of some eminent men on the subject of Chris- 
tianity, or rather their faith in it, having been briefly declared in 
the foregoing discourse, the author feeling deeply concerned that 
the youth of Virginia should have this subject fairly and fully pre- 
sented to them, cannot forbear to add the following statements. 

John Locke. This enhghtened man and profound reasoner 
was most firmly attached to the Christian religion. The sacred 
Scriptures are every where mentioned by him with the greatest 
reverence ; and he exhorts Christians to betake themselves in ear- 
nest to the study of the way of salvation in those holy writings 
wherein God has revealed it from heaven and proposed it to the 
world. In a letter written, just before his death, to a person who 
asked the question, 'What is the shortest and surest way for a 
young man to attain the true knowledge of the Christian religion ?' 
he says, ' Let him study the Holy Scriptures, especially the New 
Testament. Therein are contained the words of eternal life. It 
has God for its author ; salvation for its end ; and truth without any 
mixture of error for its matter.' This advice was conformable to 
his own practice. For fourteen or fifteen years he applied him- 
self in an especial manner to the study of the Scriptures, and em- 
ployed the last years of his life hardly in any thing else. He was 
never weary of admiring the great views of that sacred book, and 
the just relation of all its parts; ' he every day made fresh disco- 
veries in it, that gave him fresh cause of admiration.' The con- 
solation which he derived from divine revelation is forcibly ex- 
pressed in these words : ' I gratefully receive and rejoice in the 
light of revelation, which has set me at rest in many things, the 
manner of Svhich my poor reason can by no means make out to 
me.' On the day before his death, he particularly advised all 
about him to read the Sci ipiures ; and especially exalted the care 
which God shewed to man, in justifying him by faith in Jesus 
Christ; and in particular, returned God thanks for having blessed 
him with the knowledge of that Divine Saviour. 

Sir Isaac Newton. Of this celebrated mathematician and ex- 
traordinary genius, it is said, that in learnina mathematics he did 
6 



42 



not study Euclid ; he understood him almost before be had read 
him ; a cast of the eye on the theorems was sufficient to make 
him master of them. Several of his works mark a profundity of 
thought and reflection that has astonished the most learned men. 
He was thoroughly persuaded of the truth of Revelation ; and 
amidst the great variety of books which he had constantly before 
him, that which he loved the best and studied with tlie greatest 
application, was the Bible. He was, indeed, a truly pious man; 
and his discoveries, concerning the frame and system of the uni- 
verse, were applied by him to demonstrate the being of a God, and 
to illustrate his power and wisdom. He also wrote an excellent 
discourse to prove, that tlie remarkable prophecy of Daniel's 
weeks, was an express prediction of the coming of the Messiah, 
and that it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He died in the eighty- 
fifth year of his age. In his principles and conduct through life, 
he has left a strong and comfortable evidence, that the highest 
intellectual powers harmonize with religion and virtue ; and that 
there is nothing in Christianity but what will abide the scrutiny of 
the soundest and most enlarged understanding. 

Lord Bacon, high chancellor of England. The following ac- 
count of this celebrated philosopher, is taken from Addison. Sir 
Francis Bacon was a man, who for greatness of genius and com- 
pass of knowledge, did honor to his age and country; 1 could al- 
most say, to human nature itself. He possessed at once, all those 
extraordinary talents which were divided amongst the greatest 
authors of antiquity. He had the sound, distinct, comprehensive 
knowledge of Aristode, with all the beautiful lights, graces and 
embellishments of Cicero. One does not know which most to 
admire in his writings, the strength of reason, the force of style, or 
the brightness of imagination. I was infinitely pleased to find 
among the writings of this extraordinary man, a prayer of his own 
composing, which for the elevation of thought and greatness of 
expression seems rather the devotion of an angel than of a man. 
The following brief extract will suffice to shew its character. 

' Remember, O Lord, how thy servant has walked before thee ; 
remember what I have first sought and what has been principal in 
my intenuons. I have loved thy assembly ; I have n.ourned for 
the divisions of thy Church; I have delighted in the brightness of 
thy sanctuary ; I have ever prayed unto thee, that the vine which 
thy right hand hath planted in this nation, might have the former 
and the latter rain ; and that it might stretch its branches to the seas 
and to the floods. Thy creatures have been my books, but thy 
Scriptures much more so. I have sought thee in the courts, the 
fields and the gardens; but I have found thee in thy temples. 



43 



Thousands have been my sins, and ten thousand my transgres- 
sions; but thy sanctifications have remained with me, and my 
heart, through thy grace, hath been an unquenched coal upon thine 
altar; be merciful unto me, O God, for my Saviour's sake, and 
receive me into thy bosom and guide me in thy ways.' 

Sir William Jones. * The mind of Sir William Jones,' says 
his pious and elegant biographer. Lord Teignmouth, *was never 
tainted with infidelity; but there was a period before his judgment 
was matured, and before he had studied the Scriptures with close 
attention, when his belief in the truth of revelation was tinged with 
doubts. But these were the transient clouds, which for a while 
obscure the dawn, and disperse the rising sun. His heart and 
his judgment told him, that religion is a subject of supreme im^ 
portance, and the evidence of its truth worthy of his most serious 
investigation. About the twenty-third year of his age, he sat 
down to die inquiry without prejudice, and rose from it with a 
conviction, which the studies of his future life invigorated and 
confirmed. The completion of the prophecies, relating to our 
Saviour, had impressed upon his youthful mind this invaluable 
truth, that the language of Isaiah and of the Prophets was inspired ; 
and in this belief, to which fresh proofs were progressively added, 
he closed his life. At the end of his Bible, he wrote the follow- 
ing note, which, coming from a man of his profound erudition and 
perfect knowledge of the oriental languages, customs and manners, 
must be considered as a powerful tesdmony, not only to the sub- 
limity, but to the divine inspiradon of the sacred Scriptures. ' I 
have,' he says, 'carefully and regularly perused these holy Scrip- 
tures, and I am of opinion that this volume, independently of its 
divine origin, contains more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, 
more true morality, more important history, and finer strains, both 
of poetry and eloquence, than can be collected from all other 
books, in whatever age or language they may have been written.' 

The following extract, from one of his prayers, found among 
his papers, will at once shew the grandeur as well as the humility 
of his mind. 

'Eternal and incomprehensible mind, who by thy boundless 
power, before dme began, created innumerable worlds for thy 
glory, and innumerable orders of beings for their happiness, which 
thy infinite goodness prompts thee to desire, and thy infinite wis- 
dom enabled thee to know! w^e, thy creatures, vanish into nothing 
before thy supreme majesty. We hourly feel our weakness ; we 
daily bewail our vices; we continually acknowledge our folly; 
thee only we adore with awful veneration ; thee we thank with the 
most fervent zeal ; thee we praise with astonishment and rapture ; 



44 



to thy power we humbly submit ; of thy goodness we devoutly 
implore protection ; on thy wisdom we firmly and cheerfully rely. 
We do but open our eyes, and instantly we perceive thy di\dne 
existence; we do but exert our reason, and in a moment we dis- 
cover thy divine attributes; but our eyes could not behold thy 
splendor, nor could our minds comprehend thy divine essence; 
we see thee only through thy stupendous and all perfect works ; 
we know thee only by that ray of received light, which it has 
pleased thee to reveal.' It concludes with the following eloquent 
words: 'And as with our Hving voice and our dying lips, we will 
express our submission to thy decrees, adore thy providence and 
bless thy dispensations; so in all future states to which we reve- 
rently hope thy goodness will raise us, grant that we may continue 
praising, admiring, venerating, worshipping thee more and more, 
through worlds without number and ages without end.' 

Sii' Robert Boyle. The celebrated Boerhaave has passed the 
following eulogium upon him : ' Boyle was the ornament of this 
age and country. Which of his writings shall 1 commend ? All 
of them. To him we owe the secrets of fire, air, water, animals, 
vegetables, fossils ; so that from his works may be deducted the 
whole system of natural knowledge.' He was urged by Lord 
Clarendon to enter the Church, but not feeling within himself any 
motion or tendency of mind which he could safely esteem a call 
from the Holy Spirit, he did not venture to take holy orders, lest 
he should be found to have lied unto the Holy Ghost.' More- 
over, he thought that he could render more ser\ice to religion as 
a layman than as a clergyman. By his munificent donations and 
patronage, he materially promoted the propagation of religion 
throughout the world. The great object of his Philosophical pur- 
suits was to promote the cause of religion, and to discountenance 
atheism and infidelity. His intimate friend, Bishop Burnet, makes 
the following observations on this point : ' He appeared to those 
who conversed with him on his inquiries into nature, that his main 
design was to raise in himself and others more exalted sentiments 
of the greatness and glory, the wisdom and goodness of God. 
This design was so duly impressed on his mind, that he concludes 
the article of his will which relates to the Royal Society, in these 
words. ' I wish them a happy success in their attempt to dis- 
cover the true nature of the works of God ; and I pray that they 
and all other searchers into clerical truths, may cordially refer 
their attainments to the glory of the great Author of Nature, and 
to the comfort of mankind.' On another occasion, the same per- 
son speaks of him thus. *He had the most profound veneration 
for the great God of Heaven and Earth that I ever observed in 



45 



any man. The very name of God was never mentioned by him 
without a pause and observable stop in his discourse.' So bright 
did the example of this great and good man shine through his 
whole course, that Bishop Burnet, on reviewing it, in a moment 
of pious exultation, thus expressed himself : ' I might challenge 
the whole tribe of libertines, to come and view the usefulness, as 
well as the excellence of the Christian religion, in a life that was 
entirely dedicated to it.' 

To the above testimonies of men whose blameless and benefi- 
cent lives have endeared them to the hearts, as did their talents to 
the heads of all men, let me add the dying testimony of two great 
geniuses, who were brought to feel and acknowledge the inesti- 
mable value of religion in the awful hour. The first is that of 
George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, who lived in the dissolute 
age of Charles the second. He was a man of great abilities and 
fine education. He was (says the Earl of Clarendon) a man of 
noble presence. He had great liveliness of wit, and a peculiar 
faculty of turning serious things into ridicule. He had no princi- 
ples of religion, virtue and friendship. Pleasure, frolic and ex- 
travagant diversion, were all that he regarded. He had no stea- 
diness, nor conduct ; he could never fix his thoughts, nor govern 
his estate, which was at one time the greatest in England. He 
was bred about the King, and at one time had a great ascendant 
over him ; but at length he drew a lasting disgrace upon himself, 
and ruined both body and mind, fortune and reputation. It ap- 
pears to have been in this degraded and deserted state, mourn- 
fully looking over a life spent in vice and folly, that be wrote the 
following letter to a particular friend. Doctor Barrow, a short time 
before his decease. 

' Dear Doctor, — I always looked upon you to be a person of true 
virtue, and know you to have a sound understanding ; for how- 
ever I may have acted in opposition to the principles of religion 
and the dictates of reason, I can honestly assure you I have al- 
ways had the highest veneration for both. The world and I shake 
hands, for I dare affirm we are heartily weary of each other. O, 
what a prodigal I have been of that most valuable of all posses- 
sions, time! I have squandered away with a profusion unparallel- 
ed ; and now, when the enjoyment of a few days would be worth 
the world, I cannot flatter myself with the prospect of half a dozen 
hours. How despicable, my dear friend, is that man who never 
prays to his God, but in the time of distress I In what manner can 
he supplicate that Omnipotent Being in his afflictions, whom, in 
time of prosperity, he never remembered ? Do not brand me with 
infidelity, when I tell you that I am almost ashamed to offer up 



46 



my petition at the throne of Grace, or to implore that Divine 
mercy in the next world, which f have scandalously abused in 
this. Shall ingratitude to man be looked upon as the blackest of 
crimes, and not ingratitude to God? Shall an insult offered to a 
King be looked upon in the most offensive light, and yet no notice 
taken when the King of Kings is treated with indignity and disres- 
pect ? The companions of my former libertinism would scarcely 
believe their eyes were you to show them this epistle. They 
would laugh at me as a dreaming enthusiast, or pity me as a timo- 
rous wretch, who was shocked at the appearance of futurity ; but 
whoever laughs at me for being right, or pities me for being sen- 
sible of my errors, is more entitled to my compassion than resent- 
ment. A future state may well enough strike terror into any man, 
who has not acted well in this life ; and he must have an uncommon 
share of courage, indeed, who does not shrink at the presence of 
God. The apprehensions of death will soon bring the most prof- 
ligate to a proper use of his understanding. To what a situa- 
tion am I now reduced ! Is this odious little hut a suitable lodging 
for a Prince ? Is this anxiety of mind becoming the character of a 
Christian? From my rank, I might have expected affluence to 
wait upon my life ; from religion and understanding, peace to 
smile upon my end ; instead of which I am afflicted with poverty, 
and haunted with remorse; despised by my country, and, I fear, 
forsaken by my God !' 

'There is nothing so dangerous as extraordinary abilities. I 
•cannot be accused of vanity now, by being sensible that I was 
once possessed of uncommon qualifications, especially as I sin- 
cerely regret that I ever had them. My rank in life made these 
accomplishments still more conspicuous ; and, fascinated by the 
general applause which they procured, I never considered the 
proper means by which they should be displayed. However, to 
procure a smile from a blockhead whom I despised, I have fre- 
quently treated the virtuous with disrespect, and sported with the 
the holy name of Heaven, to obtain a laugh from a parcel of fools, 
who were entitled to nothing but contempt. Your men of wit 
generally look upon themselves as discharged from the duties of 
religion, and confine the doctrines of the Gospel to people of 
meaner understanding. It is a sort of derogation, in their opinion, 
to comply with the rules of Christianity, and they reckon that man 
possessed of a narrow genius, who studies to be good. What a 
pity that the holy writings are not to be made the criterion of true 
judgment; or that any person should pass for a gendeman in this 
world, but he that appears solicitous about his happiness in the 
next !' 



47 



' I am forsaken by all my acquaintance ; utterly neglected by the 
friends of my bosom, and the dependants on my bounty : but no 
matter! I am not fit to converse with the former, and have no 
ability to serve the latter. Let me not, however, be wholly cast 
off by the good. Favor me with a visit as soon as possible. 
Writing to you gives me some ease, especially on a subject I 
could talk of for ever. I am of opinion this is the last visit 1 
shall ever solicit from you ; my distemper is powerful. Come 
and pray for the departing spirit of the poor unhappy 

Buckingham.' 

Lord Rochester, At the age of thirty-one, this highly talented 
man had, by a series of dissipations, brought himself to the brink 
of eternity. But it pleased the Almighty to make him a monu- 
ment of grace during his last sickness. He was blessed with the 
acquaintance of Burnet, to whom, in his extremity, he addressed 
the following letter. 

' My most honored Doctor Burnet, — My spirits and body decay 
equally together, but weak as I am in person, I shall write you a 
letter. If God be yet pleased to spare me longer in this world, I 
hope by your conversation to be exalted to such a degree of piety, 
that the world may see how much I abhor what I once so much 
loved, and how much I glory in repentance and in God's service. 
Bestow your prayers upon me that God would spare me, if it be 
his good will, to shew true repentance and amendment of life 
for the time to come ; or if the Lord please soon to put an end 
to my worldly being, that he would mercifully accept my death- 
bed repentance, and perform that promise he has been pleased to 
make, that at what time soever a sinner doth repent he would re- 
ceive him. Put up then, prayers, most dear Sir, for your most 
obedient languishing servant.' 

Bishop Burnet accordingly visited him, and had much inter- 
course with him during the remainder of his life, which was not 
very long, though long enough for the purpose of obtaining a saving 
faith and genuine repentance. He highly reprobated that foolish 
and absurd philosophy propagated by the late Hobbes and others, 
which the world so much admired, and which had undone him 
and many persons of the best parts in the nation. His hope of 
salvation rested solely on the free grace of God through Jesus 
Christ. He expressed great esteem for the Holy Scriptures, and 
resolved that if God should spare him, he would frequently read 
them and meditate upon them ; for having spoken to his heart, 
he acknowledged that all the seeming absurdities and contradic- 
tions, which men of corrupt and reprobate judgment supposed to 



48 



be in them, were vanished, and now that he loved and received 
the truth, their beauty and excellency appeared. He expressed 
much concern for the pious education of his children, and wished 
his son might never be a wit, ' one of those wretched creatures,' as 
he expressed it, ' who pride themselves in denying the being or pro- 
vidence of God, and in ridiculing religion.' To a friend who 
came to visit him, he said, ^you and I have been friends and sin- 
ners a great while, and therefore I am the more free with you. 
We have all been mistaken in our conceits and opinions ; our per- 
suasions have been false and groundless; therefore, God grant 
you repentance,' striking his hand upon his heart, ' I hope God 
will touch your heart.' He caused the following solemn declara- 
tion to be drawn up, which he signed with his own hand. 

' For the benefit of all those whom I may have drawn into sin 
by my example and encouragement, I leave to the world, this my 
last declaration, which I deliver in the presence of the Great God 
who knows the secrets of all hearts, and before whom I am pre- 
paring to be judged; that from the bottom of my soul, I detest 
and abhor the whole course of my former wicked life ; that 1 think 
I can never sufficiently admire the goodness of God, who has 
given me a true sense of my pernicious opinions and vile practices, 
by which I have hitherto lived without hope and without God, in 
the world; having been an open enemy to Jesus Christ, doing the 
utmost despite to the Holy Spirit of Grace, and that the greatest 
testimony of my charity to such is, to warn them in the name of 
God, and as they regard the welfare of their immortal souls, no 
more to deny iiis being and his Providence, and despise his good- 
ness; no more to make a mock at sin, and contemn the pure and 
excellent religion of my ever blessed Redeemer, through whose 
merits alone, I, one of the greatest of sinners, do yet hope for 
mercy and forgiveness. Amen. 

J. Rochester.' 

* Declared aud signed in the presence of 

Ann Rochester, 
Robert Parsons,'^ 

He lived to feel happily assured of the mercy of God through 
Jesus Christ. For a further account of him we refer our readers 
to a small volume published by Doctor Burnet, entitled ' Some 
})assages of the life and dead) of John, Earl of Rochester.' A 
book, which, as Doctor Johnson says, 'the critic ought to read for 
its elegance, the philosopher for its arguments, and the saint for its 
piety.' 



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